Bicycle MechanicsBroken bottom bracket? Tacoed wheel? If you're having problems with your bicycle, or just need help fixing a flat, drop in here for the latest on bicycle mechanics & bicycle maintenance.

Just bought a new bike with full Campy Chorus. I had Shimano on the old rig and knew how to release the brakes to change a flat. The campy brakes don;t have the lever. Do you have to release the brakes to perform a flat repair?

The brake release is on the brake lever. There's a small cylinder in the horizontal plane on the outside (front facing) edge of the actual lever above the pivot. Snap that little guy to the other side and the levers will allow the brakes to open up. Do the opposite (might have to compress the lever) to close the brakes.

Keep in mind that sometimes a builder will setup with brakes with the brake lever release open. If snapping the little guy doesn't seem to allow the brakes to open up this might be the issue... You'll have to release the cable from the brake and readjust them with the release closed.

Thanks! I just tried this, and of course just as you said the brakes openned up!

I have a bike with Campy Ergo brifters and Shimano Dura Ace brakes. The beauty of this arrangement is I have brake quick releases on both the brake calipers and the brake levers. Open both and the brakes will clear nearly anything.

I have a bike with Campy Ergo brifters and Shimano Dura Ace brakes. The beauty of this arrangement is I have brake quick releases on both the brake calipers and the brake levers. Open both and the brakes will clear nearly anything.

If I'm tracking right, if you went the OTHER way you would be out of luck entirely, in that case neither the Brakes (Campy) or the Levers (Shimano) would have a way to release tension. ???